Mini Biographies of Scots and Scots Descendants

General Robert Hunter, Captain General and Governor of New York and New Jersey, later Governor of Jamaica, a Scot, born est c.1675, who distinguished himself as a soldier under Marlborough (would be temp 1704), appointed Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1707, but captured en route by the French, released 1709, he suggested that the Palatines (Protestant refugees from persecution in Germany) be settled in the British colonies, petitioned the London Board of Trade to that effect, the Board made a report 5th Dec 1709 proposing a settlement in New York state, approved 7th Jan 1710, him described as "Colonel Hunter" and "Brigadier Robert Hunter", the report also refers to instructions from the 3rd Earl of Sunderland (Marlborough's son-in-law, grandfather of Elizabeth Spencer), sailed from Plymouth, 10th Apr 1710, bringing with him nearly 3000 Palatines in a convoy of ships, see list of ships, the ship he was on, the Lowestoffe, arrived at New York, 14th June 1710, he was appointed Governor of New York and New Jersey the same day, served 1710-19, he is described as "one of the few popular Royal Governors in American history", but had many problems with the Palatines, who became the pioneer settlers of Schoharie Co, NY, "a man of wit and humor", he authored (with Lewis Morris) a satiric farce Androborus (1714), the first play to have been written and printed in British America, mar Elizabeth Orby [of Croyland Abbey, descendant of Edward III] and had issue [ancestors of Orby Hunter of Croyland], appointed Governor of Jamaica 1727 to re-assert British control of Jamaica against the Maroons (free and escaped slaves), served 1727-34, he was frustrated by Jamaica's mountainous terrain, which the Maroon leaders used to their advantage in guerrilla warfare, see history here and here and here, died 1734, age est c.60 yrs, shortly before the reinforcements he so often requested finally arrived in Jamaica, described as lord of the manor of Croyland in 1734.

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